Honeyblood
Babes Never Die
FatCat Records

It's been two years since Glaswegian duo Honeyblood released their self-titled debut album. Having lost their original drummer after their first release, band members Stina Tweeddale (guitar/vocals) and Cat Myers (drummer/vocals) have now delivered a fiery, energetic and still quite angry record. In likeness to their previous release the lyrical theme still revolves around love and hear-ache, but more extroverted and full of resolve. With regard to the album title, and the track itself, Tweeddale states 'I guess you could call it a war cry; to have faith to never let yourself be defeated' and '...When I use the word 'Babe' I don't see it as gendered. I just wanted to share the phrase and the power it gives me.'

Therefore, in lieu of the self-pity usually ascribed to themes of love, the record prescribes a more hands-on-approach as demonstrated in the chorus of "Sea Hearts":

Babes Never Die offers a kind of up-in-your-face toughness, avoiding the cute guitar-and-drum stereotype often haunting comparable outfits. The tracks, dominated by Tweeddales gritty and hectic guitar, are remarkably well performed; which gives them credit taken their minimal set-up into account. In sum; even though the band is now firmly placed within both the Glaswegian and the wider 90s revival rock scene, their sound is definitely becoming their own.

Copyright © 2016 Jord Nylenna